Tri-City Dust Devils
Encyclopedia
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a minor league baseball
team in Pasco, Washington
, United States
. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League
and have been a farm team
of the Colorado Rockies
since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa Stadium, formerly Dust Devils Stadium. Opened in 1995, the stadium seats 3,654 fans.
were acquired from Portland and relocated to the Tri-Cities with the new Dust Devils name. The team played at Tri-City Stadium from 2001 to 2004, when the stadium was renamed Dust Devils Stadium in recognition of the team. Tri-City Stadium was home to the Tri-City Posse
of the independent Western Baseball League
from 1995 to 2000. The stadium was again renamed in 2008, becoming Gesa Stadium in a ten year naming deal with local financial institution Gesa Credit Union.
The Dust Devils are currently headed up by President Brent Miles
and Vice President/General Manager Derrel Ebert. Prior to Ebert taking over as VP/GM in Setptember 2009, Monica Ortega held the position from 2008-2009 as the only female general manager in the Northwest League
. The principal owner of the team is Baseball Hall of Fame member George Brett
with Brent Miles as a minority owner.
, which include Kennewick
and Richland
along with Pasco, have fielded a number of teams in the Northwest League and its predecessor, the Western International League
. The Tri-City Braves were a member of the WIL from 1950 to 1955, when the team became a charter member of the new Northwest League. The Tri-Cities were continually represented through 1974 and had a number of teams during this period (Braves 1950-60, 1962; Angels 1961, 1963–64; Atoms 1965-68; A's 1969; Padres 1970-72; Triplets 1973; Ports 1974).
In 1974, the Ports were an independent team and went 27-57 in front of 21,611 fans. The team was managed by owner Carl W. Thompson, Sr. before folding. The Tri-Cities were without baseball until 1983 when the Tri-Cities Triplets (an homage to the 1973 name) formed, though they only lasted until 1986. The Triplets had relocated from Walla Walla
and were an affiliate of the Texas Rangers
for the first two years, independent for the final two. They played their home games at Richland High School baseball field, adjacent to the Bomber Bowl
football stadium. The team was owned by the Brett
brothers in 1986, who sold it that fall to a group headed by the general manager, Mal Fichman
. The Triplets relocated to southwestern
Idaho
for the 1987 season and became the Boise Hawks
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Pasco, Washington
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
and have been a farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa Stadium, formerly Dust Devils Stadium. Opened in 1995, the stadium seats 3,654 fans.
History
In 2001, the Portland RockiesPortland Rockies
The Portland Rockies were a minor-league baseball team that played in Portland, Oregon from 1995-2000. They were a rookie league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Their name and logo mimicked the mountain theme of the Colorado club, even though Portland is not located in the Rocky Mountains...
were acquired from Portland and relocated to the Tri-Cities with the new Dust Devils name. The team played at Tri-City Stadium from 2001 to 2004, when the stadium was renamed Dust Devils Stadium in recognition of the team. Tri-City Stadium was home to the Tri-City Posse
Tri-City Posse
The Tri-City Posse were a minor league baseball team located in Pasco, Washington. The team was one of the founding members of the independent Western Baseball League, and was not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team. Their home stadium was Tri-City Stadium, now Gesa Stadium.The Posse...
of the independent Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
from 1995 to 2000. The stadium was again renamed in 2008, becoming Gesa Stadium in a ten year naming deal with local financial institution Gesa Credit Union.
The Dust Devils are currently headed up by President Brent Miles
Brent Miles
Brent Miles is the president of the Tri-City Dust Devils, a short-season single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies of the Northwest League, the president of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, and the president of the High Desert Mavericks of the California League....
and Vice President/General Manager Derrel Ebert. Prior to Ebert taking over as VP/GM in Setptember 2009, Monica Ortega held the position from 2008-2009 as the only female general manager in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. The principal owner of the team is Baseball Hall of Fame member George Brett
George Brett (baseball)
George Howard Brett , nicknamed "Mullet", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th...
with Brent Miles as a minority owner.
Media
Tri-City Dust Devils games are broadcast on Newstalk 870 AM KFLD and on the Dust Devils website.Previous teams
The Tri-Cities in southeastern WashingtonEastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane , the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the...
, which include Kennewick
Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
and Richland
Richland, Washington
Richland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
along with Pasco, have fielded a number of teams in the Northwest League and its predecessor, the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
. The Tri-City Braves were a member of the WIL from 1950 to 1955, when the team became a charter member of the new Northwest League. The Tri-Cities were continually represented through 1974 and had a number of teams during this period (Braves 1950-60, 1962; Angels 1961, 1963–64; Atoms 1965-68; A's 1969; Padres 1970-72; Triplets 1973; Ports 1974).
In 1974, the Ports were an independent team and went 27-57 in front of 21,611 fans. The team was managed by owner Carl W. Thompson, Sr. before folding. The Tri-Cities were without baseball until 1983 when the Tri-Cities Triplets (an homage to the 1973 name) formed, though they only lasted until 1986. The Triplets had relocated from Walla Walla
Walla Walla Padres
The Walla Walla Padres was a Class A baseball team in the Northwest League that played in the city of Walla Walla, Washington from 1973 to 1982...
and were an affiliate of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for the first two years, independent for the final two. They played their home games at Richland High School baseball field, adjacent to the Bomber Bowl
Fran Rish Stadium
Fran Rish Stadium is a football/track stadium located adjacent to the grounds of Richland High School in Richland, Washington. Currently, it is the home of the football teams of the two high schools in the city, the Richland Bombers and the Hanford Falcons, although the Falcons have a separate...
football stadium. The team was owned by the Brett
George Brett
George Brett , is an American baseball player.George Brett may also refer to:*George Edward Brett , British-born American publisher*George Brett , World War II USAAF general...
brothers in 1986, who sold it that fall to a group headed by the general manager, Mal Fichman
Mal Fichman
Mal Fichman is a minor league manager notable for leading multiple championship teams in the Frontier League in the mid-to-late 1990s.He first became a minor league manager in 1979, heading the Newark Co-Pilots. In 1980, he led the Rocky Mount Pines to a 24-114 record. He next managed in 1987,...
. The Triplets relocated to southwestern
Southwestern Idaho
Southwestern Idaho is a geographical term for the area along the state of Idaho's borders with Oregon and Nevada. It includes the populous areas of the Boise metropolitan area, Treasure Valley and Magic Valley.-Counties:Ada |Adams |Boise |Canyon |...
Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
for the 1987 season and became the Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
.
Season-by-season results
| Tri-City Dust Devils seasons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Wins | Losses | Win % | Result |
| 2001 | 39 | 36 | .520 | 2nd Northern Division |
| 2002 | 40 | 36 | .526 | 2nd Eastern Division |
| 2003 | 33 | 43 | .434 | 3rd Eastern Division |
| 2004 | 50 | 36 | .526 | 3rd Eastern Division |
| 2005 | 36 | 40 | .474 | 2nd Eastern Division |
| 2006 | 38 | 38 | .500 | 2nd Eastern Division |
| 2007 | 37 | 39 | .487 | Eastern Division Champions |
| 2008 | 36 | 40 | .474 | 3rd Eastern Division |
| 2009 | 47 | 29 | .618 | Eastern Division Champions |
| 2010 | 30 | 46 | .395 | 4th Eastern Division |
External links
- Tri-City Dust Devils Official website
- Tri-City Herald coverage of Dust Devils
- Tri-City Herald Dust Devils writer Jack Millikin's Dust Devils blog, "Dusting off the Dish")
- baseball-reference.com - minor league teams - Pasco, WA (Tri-Cities)